A revision of the genus Deraeocoris Kirschbaum (Heteroptera:Miridae) from western America north of Mexico PublicDeposited

Descriptions

The genus Deraeocoris Kirschbaum of western America north of
Mexico was revised. Approximately 10,000 specimens from the Nearctic
Region were examined. Taxonomic characters used by previous authors
were reevaluated. In addition to the male parameres, the male vesica
and the female posterior wall of the bursa copulatrix and sclerotized
rings were used extensively in distinguishing species. Even though the
species of this genus are predaceous, known host plants were used to
assess the distribution of the species. Six species-groups are recognized
based on comparative, quantitative and cladistic analysis of
morphological and ecological characteristics. Forty-four species and
one subspecies are known to occur in western North America.
Five new species, Deraeocoris fraserensis, D. cochise, D. gilensis,
D. knightonius, and D. schuhi are described. D. incertus variety
picipes Knight is given species status. The following synonymies are
proposed: D. rufusculus Knight = D. incertus Knight, D. pilosus Knight
= D. fulvescens (Reuter), D. californicus Knight = D. cerachates Uhler,
D. incertus variety carneolus Knight = D. picipes Knight. The remaining
varieties named by H. H. Knight are recognized only as color forms
of their respective nominal species. Until more specimens are secured
and its range assessed accurately, D. barberi hesperus is retained as a
subspecies of D. barberi, even though it shows some differences in the
shape of the posterior wall of the bursa copulatrix.
The male and female genitalia were found to be useful taxonomic
characters for the genus. Intraspecific variation of the characters
appeared to be significantly smaller when mature specimens are compared.
Most species breed on one or several host plant species within a
given type of habitat. The incertus and barberi groups breed exclusively
on conifers. The remaining groups live on dictyledonous shrubs
or trees. Many species are known to feed on aphids, chermids, psocids
and coccids. Several species,including D. brevis and D. nebulosus,
are of importance in the control of some orchard pests.